8 Reasons The Affordable Care Act Deadline Matters

March 31, 2014, is the deadline to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), which expands the options for affordable coverage and provides financial assistance for those who qualify. For African Americans, this date is critical.

“March 31 could be the most important deadline of your life if you are African American,” says Dr. Robert Winn, associate vice president for community based practice at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.

“African Americans carry a disproportionate burden of disease,” says Winn. “They have some of the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension and carry the heaviest burden of cancer compared to other racial groups. If you are African American, there’s an overwhelming chance that you’ll be affected by disease. Enrolling in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is an opportunity that just cannot be missed.”